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Micro Action Sets in Christmas Catalogs


Here are Micro Action sets being featured in period catalogs. All the images on this page are taken from and used with the kind permission of WishbookWeb.com, the vintage Christmas catalog archive. Check out the site for a real nostalgia trip!

The 1989 Sears Wishbook (2 images below) - The carrier (item 4) is referred to as a “Helicopter Attack Cruiser” and came with three helicopters (one of which is the larger, ripcord-powered flying copter). The ship pictured may be a prototype as the guns on the deck are gray rather than black and there are different stickers on the island and in front of the island. The “Cargo Plane” (item 5) is shown with 14 Micro Action vehicles (including 7 “Collector Series I” jets).

Side note: Item 10 is from Imperial’s “Steel Screamers” line. The jets in this line were die-cast metal and used both Funrise and Galoob sculpts.



The 1990 JC Penney Christmas Catalog (1 image below) - The “Micro Action Super Cruiser” (item E) is shown with the black guns and stickers seen on the production version and came with 13 helicopters (one being the ripcord copter). The “Micro Action Transport Helicopter” is the military version and came with 24 Micro Action military vehicles.


The 1991 Sears Wishbook (1 image below) - The “Micro Action Cargo Plane” (item 3) is pictured with 16 Micro Action jets and 8 Micro Action military vehicles (item 4 and sold separately). The jets are from both “Collector Series I” and “Collector Series II”. Despite what the picture shows, the description claims you’d receive 12 jets and 12 military vehicles.


The 1994 JC Penney Christmas Catalog (1 image below) - The “Aircraft Carrier” (item H) is the electronic version and is supposed to have come with two jets. I own an example of this item, complete with the original white catalog box.


The 1996 JC Penney Christmas Catalog (1 image below) - The “Transport Helicopter” (item 13) is the rescue version of the same mold shown in the 1990 catalog. It came with 24 Micro Action cars and trucks. I also own an example of this item with the original white catalog box. The “C5-A Military Cargo Jet” (item 16) came with 24 Micro Action military vehicles.

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